Window cleaner



March 9, 1943. E` SIMOR 2,313,367

' w1 NDow CLEANER y I Filed oct. 1, 1941 2 sheefes-sheet 1 L.. INVENTOR: Y f LXN UqE/vr/Mon,

" A/7/5 afar/ny.

March 9, 1943.

E. SIMOR WINDOW CLEANER Filed Oct. 1. 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jazz 103 l. Joza,

' INVENToR: I [wf/vf /Mo/r,

1; afar-fuy- Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE WINDOW CLEANER Eugene Simor, New York, N. Y. l Application October 1, 1941, Serial No. 413,101

2 Claims.

This invention relates to `window cleaners and has for its main object to provide a device of this character which will make the cleaning of the outside of thewindow panes, without leaving the premises, from the inside thereof, easier and more eilicient and comfortable and expeditious than it is possible with the devices now in use for such purpose.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device as characterized hereinbefore which generally will be adapted to efficiently, quicklyand comfortable clean all parts of the panesof a` window.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a window cleaning device vwhereby the wet washing and cleaning, as well as the drying and polishing, of the window pane may be executed by the same instrument or apparatus, easily adjustably and ex'changeably for thelvarious operations.

A further object of my invention is to provide a deviceof the type herein indicated in which the cleaning of the washing element for the window panes, the removal of the dirt and used liquid therefrom, as well, as its rewetting with any appropriate cleaning iiuid, and its squeezing to a required degree, may all be done in a novel, eillcient and comfortable manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide a window cleaning device of the mentioned character which will be easily and eiiiciently adjustable to various sizes and types of windows and to various situations in the cleaning thereof.

Still a further object of this invention is to providel a window cleaner of the. typeindicated having a cleaning head or element proper which included for the independent use of s aid cleaner Other objects of this invention will be apparent as thespecification of the same proceeds, and among others I. may mention: to provide a device of the many objects, uses and advantages hereinbefore indicated; whichwill be comparatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and easy andecient in use and operation.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciiication and accompanying the same:

\-the premises, a portion of the'window structure will .be adjustable to various situations and uses,

` removed and a fresh portion used, or the drying element entirely exchanged.

being indicated in section; Y

Fig. 2 is a front view of my device, as seen from the inside of the premises in the position as used in Fig. l; A

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail of my device, being an elevational view of a portion thereof, as indicated by the arrowl in Fig. 1;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 areelevational and plan views,

respectively, of the adjustable cleaner head proper used in my device, in some of its various positions;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a washing, rewetting, and squeezing device used in connection with my invention, and v Fig.-` 9 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a modification in the wet cleaning or washing portion of said cleaner head.

Referring now .tothe drawings more in detail,

by characters of reference, the numeral 20 indivcates my device in general having the t-Wo main Still another object of my invention is to provide a cleaning head proper, in a device characterized hereinbefore, which cleaning head may be removed from the device and used independently in an efcient manner to clean portions of a Window, or for general cleaning purposes, being adapted for wet washing, drying and polishing the surfaces of various objects, and in which device adjustable handle means will also be portions of a U shaped frame, generally indi- 24 and a transverse bottom portion,25, projecting to the outside of the plane of the window panes then being continued upwardly in an adjustable outer .branch of the U frame, generally ind1cated by the numeral 26.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings. the inner or vhandle portion 23 and the transverse portion 25 of the device is made of one integral piece of material, preferably of hollow tubular construction, and a tubular or sleeve-like head or socket 21 is secured at the outer'end of the transverse or bottom section 25 to receive the adjustable outer branch 26 of the U frame.

In the embodiment shown as an example of the construction of my invention, the adjustable outer branch 26 of the U frame is made of telescopic tubular sections, preferably of rectangular cross section; three such sections being shown in Fig. 1; a bottom section 28, a middle section 29, and a top section 30, the middle section 29 being of somewhat smaller dimension so as to slidably fit into the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower and upper sections 28 and 30. The sleeve or socket 21 is similarly rectangular in cross section and of such dimensions as to receive the lower section 28 in a snugly slidable manner.

A securing screw or bolt 3| is arranged near the upper end 32 of the middle section 29, across said middle section, passing through two slots 33 (Fig. 4) at the bottom of theV upper section 30,

downwardly open so that the upper section 30 may be pulled of! from the top end of the -middle section 29 and'from said bolt 3|. A head 34 is provided at one end of the lbolt 3| and a wing nut 95 is threaded at the other screw threaded portion 36 of the bolt 3|. It is obvious that when' the wing nut 35 is tightened it will securely lock the middle section 29 and the upper section 30 to one another. On the loosening of the Wing nut 35, however, the upper section 30 may be pulled oil the upper end of the -middle section, the screw 3| riding in the downwardly open slots 33, as will be obvious to those versed in this art, the screw or bolt 3| remaining in its holes in the middle section 29.

A longitudinal slot 31 is further provided in the middle section in the two faces or sides thereof transverse to the side in which the bolt 3| is arranged, said longitudinal slots 31 being closed, both, at their upper and lower ends, as at 31a and 31h.

A bolt 38 and a wing nut 39 is arranged adjacent to the upper end 48 of the lower section 28 passing through holes in the appropriate opposite sides of the lower section 28 and through the slots 31 in the middle section 29.

It will be obvious that upon the loosening or releasing of the wing nut 39, the middle section 29 may slide inwardly or outwardly in the lower section 28, thereby lengthening or shortening the branch 26 of the U frame 2|, its bolt 38 riding in the slots 31, and the middle section 29 may y be secured in any of its telescopically adjusted positions by tightening the wing nut 39.

At the lower end of the lower section 28, downwardly open comparatively short slots 4| are provided, iaclng the sides of the receiving sleeve or socket 21 which are in parallelism with the plane of the transverse branch 25 and handle 23 of the U frame 2|. A bolt 42 passes through said slots 4| and through appropriate holes 'in the mentioned sides of the socket 21, and a wing nut 43 is threaded on the screw threaded end of the bolt 42, while the other end thereof may be provided with a head, similarly to the bolts 3| and 38, mentioned hereinbefore, and it will be seen that upon a loosening of the wing nut 43, the middlesection 28 may be entirely pulled out upwardly of the socket or sleeve 21, the bolt 42 riding in the downstanding brackets, or lugs 6| are provided on the wardly open slots 4| and permanently remaining in the socket 21, as will be obvious to those versed in this art. Y

A It will be seen that the branch 26 of the U frame 2| may be extended or contracted to any lengths within the limits provided or allowed by the slots 31 in the middle section 29, and that the same, with all its parts, may be entirely removed from the U frame by pulling it out of the socket 21, as has been described hereinbefore.

It also will be obvious that the upper section 30 thereof may independently be removed from the rest of the branch 26 by loosening the wing nut 35 and pulling the section 30 off the middle section 29, as has been described hereinbefore, and is indicated by the arrow 44' in Figs. 1 and 4.

To the upper end of the upper section 30 is secured my novel specific cleaning head or device proper 22 in a rotatable and in a pivoted manner, so that the connection between the upper section 39 and the cleaning head 22 is a universal joint permitting the head 22 to take up various positions with reference to the section 30, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The cleaning head proper 22 is composed of a plate-like base 45 formed of any appropriate material, having a receiving channel, generally indicated by the numeral 46, along the inner edge 41 thereof, said channel being formed of the marginal portion 45a of the base 45, along said edge 41 thereof, then by an upstanding wall 48, and an outwardly pointing transverse flange 49 thereon. An elongated block 50 of liquid alo-- sorbent resilient material, like rubber sponge, is secured in the channel 46as by the cord 5| passing through appropriate holes in the lower and upper walls of the channel 46, and in this manner being arranged as a seam across the inner end 50a of the elastic absorbentblock 50, while the outer larger portion 50h of said block may be allowed to spread out through its resilient action. Another receiving channel, generally indicated by the numeral 52, is formed along the opposite outer edge 53 of the base 45. The upper Wallor top 54 of said channel, however, being made upwardly and downwardly movable or rockable so as to make the drying and polishing element, generally indicated by the numeral 55, in said'channel easily removable and exchangeable.

To form said channel, adapted to be easily opened and closed, an upstanding wall 56 is provided on the base 45 spaced apart from the edge 53 thereof and having two inwardly turned ilanges 51 at its upper end. A plate element 58, with two upstanding lugs or brackets 59, is secured on each flange 51 (Figs. 1 and 3), and a plate is secured on the movable upper member 54, opposite each plate 58 on the flanges 51. As will be observed, the upper movable or rockable member 54 is entirely independent of the upstanding wall 56, and the flanges 51.- Upplates 60 slidably engaging. in respective overlapping portions 59a and VGla, the upstanding brackets or lugs 59 on theinner plates 58.

A permanently secured pin 62 is arranged in appropriate holes in -each pair of inner lugs 59, the outer lugs 6| being rockable therearound through appropriate openings therein,

A helicalspring 63 is arranged around each pin 62,l one end 63a thereof engaging the Vouter plate 68 and the other, 6317, engaging the respective inner plate 58. A handle device 64 isy secured on the rocking upper member 54, as at 64a, havamasar ing a downwardly bent inner end 64b. vIt will be seen that upon exerting a downward pressure on the inner end 64b, the upper plate 54, in the outer, channel 52 of the cleaning head 22, will rock upwardly on its pivots 62, as indicated by the arrow 65, and will release the cleaning element 55 in said channel 52. f

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the cleaning element 55 may have a central elongatdspiece of material, 65, forming a core for the same around which is wound, in a plurality of layers, a strip of paper 61. The mentioned universal Joint between the cleaning head 22 and the upper section 30, generally indicated by the numeral 68, is formed-of a hollow block of material 68 having an upstanding pin 10 around which the base plate 45 may rotate, as indicated in Fig. 3, (arrow 84) andas will be obvious. Means may be provided to permit such a rotation for the base plate 45 and still secure the same in the pothe device win be taken inwardly through the space 83 under the window sash 8|, the head 22 rotated around the pin 14, as indicated by the arrow 84 (Fig. 3), turning the drier and polisher element 61 inwardly into the position formerly occupied by the washing element 50, whereupon thereof, and a bolt or screw 13 is passed through appropriate holes in the block 69 and in the upper ends of said fork,- as will be obvious and as it is indicated in Fig, 1, said bolt or screw 13 having a head at one end thereof and, a .wing nut 14 being threaded on the other end of the same.

It is obvious that upon the loosening ofthe wing nut 14, the block 69, and the whole cleaning head 22 therewith, may be turned or rocked 'on the axis of the pin 13 to any desired positions within the limit of its rocking, whereupon said head may be secured in its new adjusted position by the tightening of the wing nut 14.

The use and operation of my device will be obvious from the 4herein description thereof and it is as follows: l A

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is indicated the application portion of the outer surface of the glass pane 80 in a window sash 8| ofa window structure 82 f from the inside of the premises. j

The operation is the same whether the sash be an upper or a lowerone. The other sash will be pushed to the upper end of the window structure 82, and-the sash, the lower outer portion of which is to be cleaned, will be drawn downthereof` when it is desired to clean the lower wardly but leaving space 83 thereunder through i The absorbent resilient strip ofrubber sponge 50 has been preferably wetted to a desired extent 'and the operator now will grip the handle 23, will press said strip 50, comprising the washing element in the cleaning head 22, against the window pane 80 to a desired extent and will move it upwardly and downwardly on the outer face of the window pane 80 starting from one vertical end of said pane and gradually moving to the other vertical end thereof covering the whole outer lower portion of said surface, whereupon vice seen from the side of the drying element 61 the outer branch 26 of the device will be returned to the outside of the window pane in the same position as before and as indicated in Fig. 1, but now the drier 61 will be pressed against the window pane and the same will be dried and polished, as will be obvious, and with 4similar-movements as it has been washed before.

It will be seen that the upper outer surface of a window pane may be washed, dried and pollshed in a similar manner by pulling the respective sash, partially downwardly and arranging my U shaped cleaning device` 20 to saddle the upper end of the window pane ina similar manner as the lower end thereof has been shown saddled or embraced by it in Fig. 1, but in a reversed downward position, and the upper outer surface of the respective windowpane will now be washed and then dried and polished in a similar manner, thereby completing the washing, drying and polishing of the entire outer surface of the respective window pane 80.

It will be obvious that by, judicious moving of the upper and lower sashes of a window upwardly' and I(downwardly, and applying my U shaped frame over the lower ends and then over the upper ends thereof, the uter surfaces of both panes window panes has been finished, the wing nut Y 35 may be loosened and the upper section 30, with the cleaner head 22 thereon, may be entirely removed, whereupon the upper section 30 may be used as a grip or handle for the cleaning head and the inner surfaces` of the window panes cleaned quickly, eiciently and easily, by rst applying the wet element 50 thereon and then the drying and polishing element 61 of the same.

It will also be obvious that at anytime when'it is desired to use the cleaner head 22 ina different position, for cleaning corners and edges, the wing nut 14 may be loosened and the head 22 turned on the bolt 13 inthe fork 1| until its base plate 45 will point upwardlyas indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 (arrow 13a). 'I'he rst of said figures being .a side elevational view and Fig. 6 being a plan view of the upper end of the outer branch 26 and the cleaner head 22 in said position. In said figures, the washing element 5|)y is shown at the top of the device. In this manner, said washing element may be used in horizontal or vertical corners and edges, whereupon the base-plate 45 may be turned on the pin 'I0 (Fig. 3) until the drying element 61 will take the position of the washing element 50, and then the drying and polishing of such covers and edges may be performed, as will be obvious.

Base plate 45 and the operating portions of the cleaning head 22 therewith may also be turned into an intermediate position, as indi.- cated in Fig. '1, which figure is a view of the Adeand in which case both, the drying element 61 and the washing element 50 at the opposite side thereof, are turned into parallelism with the upper section 30 and may be used in such position when desired, as will -be obvious, particularly for cleaning corners edgewise by up and down strokes. l

The cleaning head may be turned in all kinds of other positions, on the swivel of the pin 19 and being rotated around the pin 10. as it is best suited to the situation to be met.

The cleaning head preferably will be turned into the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6 when it is desired to wash the dirt out of the washing element 56 and to rewet the same.

In case of cleaning the outside of the window, the U shaped frame may be taken inside of the premises, the head turned into the position of Figs. 5 and 6 and then the washing element 59 immersed into a cleaning liquid, the U frame being turned into the reverse position from that shown in Fig. 1, washed out and possibly thereafter immersed into an appropriate cleaning liquid, whereupon the superfluous liquid may be squeezed out of the same by pressing the washing element 50 against a hard surface to a desired degree. as will be understood.

For this operation I provide a cleaning and rewetting container indicated in Fig. 8. The container of Fig. 8 is divided into two 'sections by a central wall or partition 90. In the section 9| water or other liquid may be placed for washing and cleaning the element 59, while in the section 92 the fresh cleaning liquid may be placed so that the washing element 50 after being cleaned in the section 9| may be immersed into the liquid in the section 92 and thereupon the same placed on the raised lug 93 in said section and pressed thereagainst squeezing out the superiluous cleaning liquid which then Will ilow back into the section 92.

A handle 94 may be provided for my combination cleaning and rewetting container and it may have a common spout 95 for both sections to remove the used liquid, as will be understood.

In Fig. 9 I illustrate a modiiied form of securing the washing element 50 into thecleaning head 22. In this case, said washing element is clamped between a'n upper strip of material 96, and a lower lone 91, each preferably being made of wood, and being secured on a block 98 `by outwardly -opening pivots or hinges 99 and Illl), respectively.

Inwardly projecting and preferably rearwardly bent spikes or nails IUI are arranged in the pivoted plates 96 and 91 `and when it is desired to secure the washing element 50 into the device the plates 96 and 91 will be opened, as indicated by the arrows 96a and 91a, the washing element 5|) placed against the central block 98 and the plates 96 and 91 closed thereon, their spikes |ll| penetrating into the inner portion thereof as indicated in Fig. 9.

A rotatable U shaped wire |02 may be arranged in the block 98, and after closing the plates 96 and 91 on the washing element 50, the U shaped wire |02 is turned on its stem ||l2a into the position indicated in Fig. 9, its outer branches |021) closing upon the plates 96 and 91 and securing them in their locking positions. It is obvious that when it is desired to open the device, the U shaped wire |02 will be turned into the opposite direction to that shown in Fig. 9, its branches |021) releasing the plates 96 and 91. I'he block 98 may be secured in the cleaner head proper 22 by any appropriatemeans. In Fig. 9 it is indicated thatthe inner end of the block 98 is placed Iinto a channel, generally indicated by the numeral |03, forming the respective end of the base plate 45, and the portion of the block 98 placed into said channel may be secured therein by any appropriate means, well known to those versed in this art.

As has been indicated hereinbefore, the whole outer branch 26 of my U shaped cleaning device may be removed by loosening the wing nut 43 and pulling the lower section 28 from the socket 21. In this manner, a cleaning device is provided having a handle formed by the branch 26 which may be used like a mop, or for cleaning table tops, Walls, bathtubs, or any other 'Jbjects appropriate for such cleaning, washing and drying. The handle viormed by the branch 26 may be adjusted in a similar manner as has been described hereinbefore 4by telescopically moving.

the middle section 29 to any desired extent out of the lower section 2B or into the same and thenl securing it by the wing nut 39.

It will be seen that I provide not only a window cleaning device of the many advantages enumerated hereinbefore, but also a device for many other cleaning purposes, in general, which may be adjusted tovarious uses and the cleaning head of which may be removed and used in the many positions indicated with a handle provided for it in the device itself, said handle being adapted to be made from a short convenient length to a great range of longer lengths, as desired.

The U shaped cleaning device without any change, except the turning of its cleaning head into the position of Fig. 5, may be washed out and rewetted in a quick and convenient manner and the same is true when the cleaning head is In each case, the washing out and rewetting not only may be done in a quick comfortable manner but also without the necessity of the hand oi the user touching any liquid so that ammonia Vsolutions and other effective strong cleaning fluids may be used without the disadvantages which now accompany the use of the same in similar situations.

The drying element 61 may be easily removed by exerting a downward pressure on the end 64b of the arm 64 thereby moving the plate 54 in an upward direction as indicated by the arrow 66 in Fig. 1, and as has been described hereinbefore.

As also has been indicated, the preferred form of said drying element comprises a plurality of,

layersI of paper wound around a core 66, and upon the outermost layer becoming unduly wet, the drying element 61 may be removed and the outer layer of paper torn off and then the element 61 replaced into the cleaning head permitting the plate 54 to snap thereon. This provides an extremely simple, emcient and quick -means for refreshing the drying and polishing` element.

Of course, instead oi' the paper roll any other drying and cleaning means, like an appropriate rag, chamois, etc., may be used. It also is obvious that the removal of the used paper and a renewal of the paper drying element may be made in other manners, than that indicated in the drawings, so, for instance, an appropriate rotating roll of paper may be arranged in the cleaning head and upon the exposed portion thereof becoming wet, the 4same may be released, rotated to a desired extent, and locked again by any appropriate means, as it is well known for such rotating paper rolls part of which is desired tobe removed, as paper towels, toilet paper. etc.

Similarly, the drying and polishing element may be in the form of a roll and the wet portion thereof removed from the exposed position and a. fresh portion propelled into its place, as it is well known with the endless towels now in use.

While `I have shown and described preferred embodiments of my device, it is to be understood that changes and variations may be resorted to in the elements and details of construction thereof, and I reserve my right to all such-changes and variations which are within the spirit of this specication and the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

One of such changes may consist in the construction of the wet cleaning or washing element 50 which may be formed as a rubber sponge having a hollow sleeve-like extension by which it may be pulled on an appropriate block in the cleaning head. After use 4 and deterioration, the rubber wet cleaning element may be pulled off the block and a fresh one pulled thereon.

vWhat I claim as new, is:

1. In a window cleaning device,l a U-shaped frame adapted to saddle the window sash, a

cleaning head at the end of the outer branch of said U-shaped frame, a plurality of cleaning` and polishing elements on said head, a pin` for said head in parallelism with said outer branch, said head being rotatable on said pin, a second pin at the end of -said outer branch transversely thereto, said head also being rotatable on said second pin, whereby on pre-determined rotations of said head on both pins, a selected cleaning element will be placed into engagement with the window pane in a plane and in a position, as de; sired, a member between 'said head andsaid outer branch, said iirst pin being in saidmember to rotatably secure said head thereon, and said second pin being arranged transversely at the end of said outer branch, and said member being rotatable on said second pin, the end of said outer branch being forked, said second pin being secured in said fork, and said intermediate member depending from said head into said fork.

2. In a cleaning device, a handle, a cleanerhead at the end of said handle, 'a plurality of cleaning and polishing elements in said head, a pin for said head in parallelism with said handle, said-head being secured by said pin but being rotatable thereon, a second pin at the end of said handle transversely thereto, said head. also being 'rotatable on said second pin, whereby on predetermined rotations of said head on both of said pins, a selected cleaning or polishing element may be placed into a desired operative position in a desired plane and position, a member interposed between said head and handle', said rst pin being in said member, and said member being rotatable on said second transverse pin at the end of said handle, the outer end of said handle being forked, said intermediate member being placed into said fork, and saidsecond pin being secured in said fork, j

EUGENE -SIMOR. 

